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Kurino stood with her head high. The planning for all of this had taken over two months, months of time she'd lost keeping the Pradesh men under her heel, when she'd heard about Kaleb becoming promised to the Celestial mage she hadn't worried, it wasn't an engagement, she could easily have it dissolved, bring him back under her thumb, but when she'd learned Cristoff had found his mate and was working toward bonding himself to her? She'd almost dropped everything and rushed back to Bosco.
She would name him a consort, have him brought to the palace before he could mate and keep that delicious raven haired adonis for herself, she'd keep his damn brother too, both of them beneath her heel unless Farron finally came to his senses, realized they were meant to be together and agreed to marry her.
Then the white haired woman had come, and with her the news Farron was promised to Hestor Kedanza...the fucking Celestial mage from Stella and she hated him, had always hated him, seen him at Guild competitions over the years at Kalebs side, was part of Kalebs private team and she knew, because her spies told her, that horrible silver haired creature was...spending time with Farron...having sex with Farron...She'd been livid the first time she'd gotten the report back that Farron was sleeping with Hestor, and even though all reports said it was just casual, nothing serious...now it WAS serious, paperwork was in that they were getting promised, and word was Farron was having a ring made. She'd break that right the hell apart...somehow…
The white haired woman's plans were good, and included helping her to get Farron, they would take the brothers they wanted. Zen and Kaleb had special cages made for them, set up to hold a Wizard Saint that had become an Archangel Mage, and his Archangel Mage gladiator of a brother. One was made for Cristoff too, a dragon expert brought to help them, one who knew how to dismantle a new mating without the slayer dying, yes it would fracture Cristoffs will, possibly even destroy his mind, but it was his body she wanted anyway, his cock would still get hard, he'd still produce the seed she needed for children and with enough of the special concoction created by the Joyan alchemists, he'd be a lusty willing sex toy for her.
Kaleb would possibly share the same fate, though breaking the mind of a mindbender of his kaliber was less likely, when she had to kill his little mate to free him of the part of their bond that kept him safe from being bound to another celestial mage though, a mental break would become a real possibility. Sorrano though was willing to do the deed, and planned to bind the powerful mage to herself while her sister was mated and bound to Zen.
She had to give the woman some respect, Kurino was a stone cold woman, but even she couldn't imagine doing to her own little sister, even though she had hated her for most of their lives, what Sorrano had done to Yukino.
The meek little Celestial mage was mindless, completely taken over by a Seith mage spell, her soul imprisoned in the lacrima pendant Sorrano wore now around her neck. With it she had commanded Yukino to have sex with more than one of the Joyan pleasure slaves, just to make sure she had the control she needed to make sure she could get Yukino mated and bound to Zen.
Kurino had watched it all, listened emotionlessly as Sorrano had discussed all the details with the Joyans while the mages had been going at it right in front of everyone, her level of heartless calculation was respectable, even to Kurino who was very hard to impress.
The Joyan Warqueen had agreed to it all, as long as Sorrano brought Kaleb back to Joya for a few months, so he could impregnate the Warqueen and several of her high ranking officers, they wanted his offspring, the big powerful mage being exactly what the Warqueen wanted siring the next in her line. Sorrano had readily agreed, she herself was barren, she admitted, and she wouldn't mind seeing what kind of children Kaleb sired.
Watching and planning it all, Kurino had come to a realization. It was more the life she wanted, domination, she didn't care for the equality, her forefathers had been right to lift women up and she planned to raise them the rest of the way, not so far they turned their men into the mice Joya had, no, her Bosco would have strong men to keep their powerful women happy, to sire strong powerful children. She would see her Bosco with Farron wearing the ring and choker she put on him, her King at her side and beneath her in their bed.
It was why she hated her younger sister so much. Farron had denied her own request to be her first when they were young, it should have begun then, their life long love, but instead he'd been hidden behind an illness, she didn't believe he'd been sick...no...her father just hadn't wanted her to have Farron, she still could not understand why, then, when it was her sisters time the following year, he'd been there, in her sisters bed, giving her sister what Kurino herself had dreamed of.
Then he'd refused her propositions, going to Minstrel to school, learning under the Bards and Scholars there, studying where his father had, she knew about every single lover he had ever had, had kept spies on him,had pictures of him, video of him with several of them, including with his current lover. Hestor Kedanza would never be able to give Farron all that she could, and she couldn't understand why he wasn't realizing that.
The urge to force his realization had driven her to what she had done now two days ago. Hovering over the Pradesh home so she could get cameras on him, catch sight of him before she returned home to start putting the next phase of the plan into motion.
Seeing him wrapped around that damn mage, kissing the mans neck, nibbling his ear, watching the Celestial mage turn and kiss HER Farron, those lips she had hungered for her whole life. She'd seen Hestor's hand steal inside Farrons loose shirt, watched Farron pull him in tight against him as their family had sang and danced, everyone so happy...Cristoff playing guitar, the woman he reportedly was going to mate leaning against Rowan, the blonde Celestial mage dancing with Kaleb who kept resting his forehead on hers, whispering things to her, and who were the little boys that had been dancing around? Where did they fit in? Such beautiful children...she'd been infuriated by the whole scene, unable to move an inch , she would not walk away again, she couldn't go another moment with Farron and his family thinking she didn't belong there among them, in Farrons lap, with his brothers at her feet.
The bombs they were preparing for the next phase she ordered dropped right onto the damn house. She'd been deaf to Sorrano's whines about their carefully laid plan, to hell with the woman, all she cared about was possessing one of the men Kurino had long since claimed for herself.
In retrospect, it had been rash, but even that would have been alright if one of the bombs hadn't exploded inside the bay, blasted a hole through her ship and covering it in dark magic residue, killing the dark celestial mage who had so carefully made the bombs along with several of the joyan soldiers and even the damned dragon hunter. It hadn't killed the fucking white haired bitch though, no, she survived, got to another part of the ship before it happened, maybe she had even set the bomb to go off, Kurino didn't know because the bitch had disappeared before they had managed to dock the crippled ship, before Boscan soldiers rapidly followed by fucking Knights of Immaculate light had swarmed the ship.
Before Arman Pradesh had called the Knights to his home, where they had found abundant proof his claim Kurinos ship had dropped dark magic bombs on his house was true, there was no way to deny the dark magic scattered all around Armans home matched what was all over her fucking ship..
She had tried begging and pleading with her father, but he'd turned to ice in front of her, coldly glaring at her as his experts, one after another after another, engineers, knights, priests, all confirmed there was no way, none, that she couldn't have known what was aboard her ship. Then they had found the cages….
Unfortunately,Kurino had already been in the one meant for Cristoff, had taken a Bellan fire mage they had plucked from that country and put him into it to test it, and Kurino had...enjoyed him...he'd died, the cage meant to control and break a man far more physically and magically powerful than he had been, but it had been a good test of the devices, the magic cancelling and draining tools, unfortunately, it hadn't been thoroughly cleaned after that, they had planned to prepare it after she was done making her necessary appearances for the holidays on their way to White Sea.
Her own blood spilt in good fun, had betrayed her then. Proving she not only knew about the cages, but had used one of them.
Now she stood, head high, before her father and the council, all of the consulate and important political people of Bosco in the grand hall of justice at the Citadel itself. She watched, keeping her face carefully trained in a mask of calm as Kaleb strode across the hall, breathtaking in his full dress armor, to take a knee before her father who sat in the middle of the line of Steel Councilmen.
"Kaleb Suraday Pradesh, fifth wizard saint of Bosco, Major General of the third command of the immaculate light, Guild Master of White Sea. 11 times decorated in battle, order of the Sea placed upon him by his majesty personally." The herald called.
Altiene drew a breath, before him were pictures of how Kaleb had looked after the last time his daughter had taken him to her bed, using blackmail to get him there. Arman had brought them to him the day after it had happened and he had...set them aside, berated his daughter, warned her to stay the hell away from the Pradesh family and sent her on her three month diplomatic tour.
He couldn't pretend he didn't know about his daughter's obsession with Farron Pradesh, who was sitting beside his father among the Consulate members. He wouldn't dishonor himself by trying to. He had tried over and over again to get his daughter to let this all go, had warned her this was her last warning, one more time and he would remove the crown from her head and name her brother his successor.
Now he knew...she was too far gone, and this time, he wasn't going to save her from what she had done, he couldn't.
"Kaleb, you have served this country bravely, answered every call, and the Immaculate light flows in your veins. I want you to answer me candidly. Did Princess Kurino blackmail you and force you into her bed, once there to physically...torture you and take her pleasure from you?" The councilman beside him asked.
Kaleb rose, looking right at them all. "She did, several times a year for the last 3 years, the only times she did not summon me...she summoned my younger brother Cristoff, citing the old laws of compliance and promising political repercussions to my family and guild if I did not submit." He responded.
The councilman nodded. "Did you make it clear you did not want her attention and did not want to share pleasure with her?"
"I did every time she summoned me or came to my Guild sir." Kaleb replied.
"You are a mindbender mage, correct?" Another asked and Kaleb nodded.
"I am sir, it is my primary Magic, based in the Morning Star field of Archangel magic I bear." He replied.
There were murmurings then, many, and stirring among the knights assembled.
Altiene slammed his hand down. "Silence, there will be no whisperings in this hall. If you have not the cause or courage to speak out then you will hold your tongues or be removed from this hall."
Silence ruled then, heads bowed.
"Kaleb, you were not born with blonde hair nor those pale eyes, correct?" General Tesso asked.
Kaleb shook his head. "I was not, I had dark hair and dark purple eyes until my immersion in the light within the holy lacrima in the Citadel for my induction into the knights."
"I was there, I stood honor guard for you through your three days, I personally saw you emerge from the lacrima with that pale hair and your pale eyes. I know it is not customary, but I would like the assembly to see the depth to which the light took you Kaleb, please remove your upper vestments and armor, show us your clan markings." Tesso called.
Kaleb bowed his head and his magic flared, his upper vestments, chest piece, pauldrons and undershirt vanishing leaving him standing in just his lower body armor. White faintly shimmering clan markings stood out clearly in his tanned skin and, because he knew his fellow Knights, he turned so they saw the Cross proud over his heart, then pulled his hair aside turning so they could see the shimmering marks of the wings he now possessed. Proof of his earlier claim to Archangel magic.
There were wide eyes, but nobody dared the whispering they'd done earlier with the king watching them.
"The Priests tested you after your immersion, and declared you had become a vessel of the light did they not?" Tesso asked and Kaleb nodded. "Yes sir."
"Thank you, now, for those not of the order, what this means is immaculate light flows in this man's veins, if he does dark things with his magic, tries to use any form of dark magic, his whole body will reject it, and, as an Archangel, a Mindbender, The Morning Star, lying isn't just difficult for him, it would cause him pain." Tesso said.
There were nods of agreement, though silence was maintained.
"Did Princess Kurino attack your family's home on Christmas eve Kaleb?" Tesso asked.
"She used her ship to do so, yes." Kaleb replied.
"Did she force you, against your will, to have sex with her?" Tesso asked, knowing his wording mattered.
Kaleb narrowed his eyes "She did yes, on several occasions, and would not stop using my body when I asked her to, not even when she had beaten me unconscious." He replied.
"She used drugs on you to force your body to remain hard for her use, correct?" Tesso asked and Kaleb nodded.
"She said it was succubus venoms she had gotten from friends of hers in Joya." He replied.
"Thank you Kaleb." Tesso said. "That is all of my questions for this witness." Tesso said, looking to the King.
Altiene looked at the tall proud man before him and drew a breath. "Kaleb, at first, when she called on you, did you go willingly?" He asked.
"The very first time she summoned me your majesty, I went to her willingly, eager to please my Princess, it wasn't until her taste for pain during sex was revealed that I found I didn't want to be with her, I did tell her when she was done with me that time I never wanted to be with her again." Kaleb said.
Altiene nodded, his eyes locking on his daughter angrily, she could have had this one, could have earned his affection, he'd have made an outstanding King at her side.
Cristoff was next, and Altiene was sickened further by the Dragon Slayers answers to the questions put to him. The whole assembly was.
"Did she ever tell you why she...cut you...hurt you to the extent she did?" One of the councilmen asked.
"She said she hoped I would break down and tell my family, my brother Farron, that if Farron saw what was happening he would accept her propositions and if he did she would stop demanding Kaleb and I go to her." Cristoff replied, feeling the weight of his older brother's eyes on him, knowing Farron was no doubt upset he'd never told him any of this.
"Ambassador Farron Pradesh, did you know of any of this?" the man asked and Farron stood, shaking his head.
"I did not...or I would have stepped in to protect my brothers." He replied.
"Ambassador, did you ever have a romance with the Princess?" The man asked.
Farron looked Kurino right in the eyes then, narrowing his. "We never did,I never once told her I was interested in her, I refused her advances and propositions and have since we were children." Farron replied.
Altiene rubbed the bridge of his nose. Kurinos obsession with Farron had always been a problem, her fixation on Arman's oldest son had begun when she had first met him and he had, because it was asked of him, asked her to dance.
She had begged with Altiene to put off her womanhood ceremony, to wait until Farron was over the flu so he could be the one to free her from her virginity. Altiene had refused, actually thanking the Gods Farron had caught the flu and couldn't be there, he'd pulled in a Barron's son from Minstrel to do the honors and Kurino had sobbed for days.
When her younger sister had come of age, she'd requested Farron too, not obsessed with him, but instead because she had met the boy and knew he was a good person, it didn't hurt he was an incredibly handsome 15 year old by then either.
Hoping to quell Kurinos endless pining and show her Farron was free to do what he wanted like any Boscan was, that he was not in fact devoted to her like she claimed since he'd not helped with other ceremonies since he'd missed hers. Altiene knew that had nothing to do with devotion to Kurino, and everything to do with the boy being busy with his schooling and an internship at the consulate.
He'd called in a favor with Arman and gotten Farron to go through the ceremony with Kurinos younger sister, hoping to finally put Kurinos boasting of his devotion to rest. Instead, he'd started a war between his daughters. Kurino had hated her sister for bedding Farron and had only gotten more determined to get him herself.
He'd thought military service, training, schooling, keeping her busy and buried under responsibilities would work, that he would work the nonsense out of her, push her to grow up and stop obsessing, but clearly...that had not worked.
"If not for my sister's actions...you would have." Kurino said and Altiene suppressed a groan...Gods...he could do nothing now, the woman was bringing the blade to her own neck…
Farron shook his head. "No Princess, I didn't care about your sister, I only did her ceremony with her because I was asked to, I never, not for one instant ever, had any romantic interest in you. I am very happily promised with Hestor Kedanza and honestly? My tastes in lovers has always leaned more toward men all along, I swear, I never wanted you that way, not at all, we were just friends as children, nothing more, not ever." Farron said firmly.
Kurinos calm facade broke then.
"Lies! You kissed me when we were children! It meant something! You asked me to dance at every ball! Always wore my favorite colors, you've forgotten, but I was willing to help you remember! I was going to help you…" She cried.
"Enough! Kurino, did you deliberately attack the Pradesh family home on Christmas eve?!" Altiene roared.
Kurinos eyes snapped to her fathers face and she curled a lip "I DID, I meant to break the wards and protections I knew were there, take Farron with me someplace we could be privately together so I could help him remember that he loved me once! I couldn't bear to see him with that...silver haired thing that he was holding while his family was celebrating, I saw that man kissing him, saw him touching him and I attacked so I could save him! I would make him a KING! Bear him children that would become rulers themselves! I just needed to get him alone so I could help him remember...help him to find his love for me again…" She cried, sobbing then and Altiene gaped for a moment at her open admission.
He sank into his chair, snapping his mouth shut.
"Your majesty…" The councilman beside him said softly and Altiene looked at him, tears stinging his eyes and nodded.
The Councilman stood "Your admission is given by your own free will, you Kurino Endivosh, attacked the home and family of a citizen of Bosco, your actions were a direct threat to the lives and well being of no less than 16 adults and two young children. You also stand under the charges of rape against two inducted Knights of immaculate light, whose testimonies taken today prove you were abusing your position in order to force them to your bed and the additional charge of attempted blackmail against an Ambassador of Bosco by using his brothers to try and force HIM into your bed as well. You admit your own relentless desire to possess Farron Pradesh before this whole assembly. This hearing is adjourned, you are remanded to the custody of the Knights pending your trial." He said firmly.
Kurino held up through all of it, until her father stood.
"You also are stripped of your title as the Crown Princess of Bosco, the throne succession I officially place upon your brother Liam and his husband Rastafel. " Her father said and Kurino screamed before her eyes rolled back and she fainted.
Altiene turned away, leaving immediately and letting the Knights carry off his falen daughter, he would help her no more.
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Christmas in Bosco was all about family, being together, dancing, singing, eating. New Years though, New Years was about renewal, celebrating life, love, family and the blessings you wanted to see thrive in the coming year.
The country gave gifts at New Years, serious ones, Christmas was for fun simple things Lucy had learned, though the boys had still gotten plenty of toys, most of their gifts had been clothes, shoes, books and the like. New Years was when you gave gifts with meaning.
More weddings were performed on New Years eve than any other day of the year in Bosco, which was why she and Kaleb were waiting until New Years day.
The Guild was holding special events, a party for their children, so the boys were sent with all the other children of the guild to that, Lucy staring after them wide eyed and chewing her lip as they gleefully raced to try out the pit filled with multi colored balls children were playing in. Kaleb smiled, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her back against his body.
"They'll be fine, they're children, just like all these others, magic runs within them all and they need this, to play and have friends and just...be kids." He said softly by her ear and she nodded.
"It's just, with everything that's been happening…" She said softly back and Kaleb nodded, pressing a kiss into her neck, he more than understood, he shared her concerns, but he knew the boys needed this, and the distraction all of this play and activity would provide to them. The mages running the childrens party knew to watch them closely, he had two here that it was their sole reason for being here in the first place, to watch his boys, and he trusted them not to get distracted or to let anything happen to his children and still to let them have fun.
Now...if he could get his soon to be wife away and back to the adult party, he'd be in business. His mouth was working, Lucy melting into him and finally turning to smile up at him.
"Come on, Vander and Xally are about to sing." He smiled and led her from the childrens area back to the main hall. Most of the guild was in town for New Years, it was Pelerno branches turn to host, next year it would be back at the Guilds Base in White Sea. So it was quite a crowd, but it parted for Kaleb.
Lucy had taken time with Thane, learning about all the pieces of jewelry Kaleb wore when he was decked out in his full guild regalia like he was tonight. Guild members worked together at branches designing the pieces, and over 200 years ago, the pieces he wore now had been completed for the first time. Each Guildmaster received a set made for them, and with each new guildmaster, the branches took turns designing a piece to see on their Master.
The fact Kaleb wore so much was because White Sea was so long lived, so strong and big and solid. Hence all the intricate chains, the earrings, the gorgeous choker he wore was the piece White Sea had given him, it was their turn to add when he'd been made Guildmaster, so the choker was made. A unique piece for their unique master with a lacrima that took overflowing power and fed it back into the wearer. The chain across his forehead with it's diamonds rubies and amethysts had been made for the master three before Grenlow, who had been a powerful telepath, it's stones enhanced telepathic magic.
The piece from his left temple to his left ear had been Grenlows addition, the platinum chain set with white diamonds and lacrima that could withstand immense temperatures and absorb light and release it into the wearer if they pulled from it.
Every piece of jewelry Kaleb wore had come from a specific guildmaster and had a story behind it that made it special, a part of the master who had added it to the collection.
Thane had smiled at her while teaching her about it all, and then showing her on a very patient Kaleb who reminded them both he could put it all on himself without help just fine, how to put it all onto the tall blonde correctly.
The gold embroidered white leather he wore was stunning on him, the pieces of ornamental armor made of obsidian and gold. Thane had adjusted the Wizard Saint pins holding the white Cape that bore the guilds seal on the back and met Lucys admiring look.
"So you see, everything on him has a purpose, a significance, the members want their master to shine, to look like he is the leader of such a strong guild. White Sea is not the only Boscan guild with these traditions, you'll see that at the games in the spring, but…" He looked proudly at Kaleb when he turned to face them. "No other guild has a Master that looks this damn good." The teleport mage grinned and Kaleb rolled his eyes.
"If you two are done, I'd like to get down to the party before the boys combust from impatience waiting for us." Kaleb said.
"Hey, took you longer than me to get ready." Lucy pointed out and Kaleb narrowed his eyes.
"Only because you two wouldn't let me dress myself. The 30 minute lesson on the guild jewelry? NOT my doing." He said pushing them both toward the door.
There was no mistaking him though, Lucy walked proudly beside him, in her own guild clothes, nowhere near as ornate as Kalebs. YET, according to Kaleb that would change when they got married, as soon as she was officially his wife and the Co leader of the Guild because of that, the guild would expect to see her looking good.
Grenlows wife had worn gorgeous dresses, most of them traditional veil dresses, but designed by talented guild members.
The entire Guild was here for New Years, AND, to see their Master get married. So tonight's celebration had tremendous significance for White Sea, and for Lucy...it was her last night as a Heartfillia, Tomorrow, on New Year's day, she would marry Kaleb in a traditional Boscan ceremony, now, while officially they would be married tomorrow, the ceremony itself would last through the following day, and Lucy was a little nervous about part of that.
Boscans believed firmly in marriage, and in the significance of loyalty, devotion, commitment. If you vowed to be with someone for life, they wanted you to be certain it would be. Divorce was nearly unheard of in Bosco because of how they handled marriage. There were no arranged marriages, old men couldn't marry trophy brides drastically younger than them, old women couldn't either, and to assure those uniting in the bonds of matrimony wanted each other, the ceremony was designed to give the couple plenty of chances to back out. Including, the wedding night.
After the vows, they would go to the Citadel, where she and Kaleb would enter the Lacrima together and be bathed in the immaculate light, the light would decide if Lucy was worthy of its knight.
She and Kaleb would have witnesses to their first time together then as a married couple, there to assure she wasn't being forced and that he really did want his wife. They would be in the room with her and Kaleb until he...was inside her, then, once certain the couple really was sincere in their desire for each other, the witnesses would leave and sign the document stating the marriage night was a successful consummation of the vows.
The following morning, Kaleb would get down on his knees before her and she, if she was pleased with his performance the night before and was still certain she wanted him, would put his wedding band on him and claim him.
It put a lot of choice with the woman, and all the man had to do to end it all was refuse to sleep with her or say no at any point.
It was a strong deterrent for arranged or forced marriages too, since the witnesses had to be assigned by the Sudehpah order and they were randomly assigned, nobody knew who they would get and the Sudehpah were only told where to be, not who they were observing.
She grinned as they came to the dance floor, hearing Vanders unmistakable voice along with Xallys singing "Heartbeat" which Lucy had always loved and she knew Kaleb had found out and probably asked them to, which was why he'd been so adamant about being here int time for their first song.
He smiled down at her, his silky voice in her head
Guilty, now dance with me Lucy, We're getting married tomorrow…
A short distance away on Stage Gajeel was smiling, playing his new guitar, a christmas present from Emzadi who had gotten Vander to help her pick it out, it was the nicest one he'd ever owned, and he stood on the stage, watching his mate dancing happily by the stage with Bickslow and Cana, her fiery eyes rarely leaving him. A new Year about to start, and he agreed with Boscos customs, loved them in fact, that this was the most important holiday of them all, this celebration of renewal, new beginnings, fresh starts, hope and love and dreams. He spotted Lucy, arms around Kalebs neck, the tall Guildmaster smiling down at her, his arms around her as they moved, she had been in the blackest despair, like he had, when Fairy Tail had ended, and he'd left her, lost in his own misery and determined to help Levy, to protect her and see her through it, he'd left her like the others had, but she hadn't stopped thinking of him, she'd reached out and plucked him right out of the lowest low he had ever been in and now...Emzadi winked at him, twirling, her gold hair flowing around her as she danced, here he was, celebrating the end of what had been one of the worst years of his life, but looking to the beginning of the next with the greatest hope he'd ever felt.
Hestor wasn't far away, he and Farron even occasionally drawing Emzadi to dance with them, the Celestial mage was grinning, openly laughing, dancing carelessly and not caring at all if anyone saw, the result of the tall blonde whose pale blue eyes rarely left him. Farron had fallen for Hestor a long time ago, had held on to the hope that Hestor would eventually come around and he had, it hadn't been an easy journey, but he was happy, he'd never seen the celestial mage happier, lighter, brighter.
Cristoff was a few feet from him, playing his guitar, Cana dancing around Rowan teasingly, the woman had recovered from the failed mating, realized after a long talk with Nurem that her rejection had made it impossible to be with Cristoff now, but Rowan had helped her move past it, help her realize that there was more to life than she realized and working the Playrooms with Rowan had been a growing experience, emotionally and mentally. She felt a bit of melancholy from time to time, especially now as he watched Cristoff's eyes trail to the woman that was semi-recovered from being in Pergrande. A Shifter, one of Nine women that had not given into the deep depression of what had been done to them, she was a survivor and Cana had seen the woman go from sickly to healthy, at least physically, just as she had. The two had an odd friendship and Cana had been shocked to see the woman could put away just as much alcohol as she could. They'd become at least Semi-friends and Cana had to admit, the woman was a bit easier to understand with a few drinks under her belt, the Encan accent easier to process with just a bit of fuzziness in her head the woman also had a cheery friendliness that could warm a heart, but Cana could see the dark shadows there that Pergrande had left, knowing they were still in her own from time to time..
Gajeel was in awe by it himself, the family had wrapped around their new members without hesitation, warm, welcoming, no judgement, just sincere open arms. He suddenly had brothers, a lot of them, that he could turn to, a couple that shared his love of music, who would sit and play and just relax and jam with him. Talk music with him, Gods Vander sang his songs for him and Gajeel got to hear them like they should sound, he was willing to admit, his own gravelly voice couldn't manage them.
He was relaxing more into the night, enjoying the music, the vibe of the guild, when he saw a flash of red he'd know anywhere and had to struggle to keep playing right. He moved to the front of the stage, bent and Emzadi happily came forward, immediately grabbing his hair and pulling him a little closer for a kiss he smiled into.
"Sunfire, go tell Lucy...nevermind…" Gajeel rolled his eyes as three mages went flying and wards flared to life. In less than 5 seconds Titania, the former Queen of the Fairies, was immobile, rigid, crushed inside a protection field even she had absolutely no hope at all of even sneezing in hovering about three feet off the ground, a couple feet behind her, Gray was in pretty much the same condition, both mages wide eyed, astounded they could neither use their magic nor move a muscle.
Lucy was pulling out of Kalebs arms and running to them as the music stopped and mages on security detail rushed to get the invaders into anti-magic restraints as soon as they picked themselves up off the floor.
Gajeel had heard it, had heard the guard tell Erza she couldn't come in, heard Erza tell him she would not be stopped, heard her shove past and sneer nobody would keep her from Lucy...well...Erza zero, White Sea wards and security...two immobilized mages with disbelief in their eyes.
"Erza! Oh my Stars...Kaleb!" Lucy was frowning, trying to get the security detail to release her friends. They weren't too keen on the idea given Erza and Grays behavior, there was a mage frozen to a wall by the guild doors and another knocked unconscious for telling Erza she wasn't allowed to just walk in without a formal invitation and they would need time to verify her claim of knowing Lucy.
Lucy sighed, rolling her eyes and looking at Erza frowning. "Seriously? Erza...Gods...you should have just listened! They weren't turning you away, the guild is under high security for a really good reason and you storm in here like a mad woman and won't show any respect for that?!" Erza could do nothing more than blink, her mouth covered by the restraint field.
Kaleb came up behind her, pale eyes moving over the hovering woman and man before turning to Lucy.
"Master Kaleb, should we take them to the detention area?" One of the security people asked.
"It would serve them right." Laxus snapped, coming around the floating pair, blue eyes narrowed glaring at them. He'd just seen the state of the two mages the pair had left and waved at Cristoff, who set his guitar down and jumped down from the stage, jogging past them to go check on the fallen security people.
"I don't know what it would take to get through to you two, I'm on the verge of not fucking caring either, you both know better than this shit, you do NOT march into a light guild all demands and bossing everyone around. You're lucky your not fucking DEAD considering the reasons behind this guild being on high alert right now. I can tell you both though, this bullshit has always gotten to me and seeing it happen here? Well, I was missing Fairy Tail tonight until you two showed up and reminded me of its fucking problems. Respect, learn to fucking have it for things other than yourself and don't you dare try to use the "We needed to know Lucy was ok" because you two fucking abandoned her, without a damn word, your whole fucking team did so I don't believe you anymore when you claim to give a damn about her, you're gonna have to prove it and this shit isn't how you do that!" The Lightning Slayer stood glaring, arms now crossed over his broad chest.
Lucy hovered, then looked at Kaleb who just nodded to her, encouraging her to take the next step, make a decision.
She nodded back to him and looked at the security team. "Please release their mouths." She said and the team glanced to Kaleb who only had to narrow his eyes and they scrambled to do Lucys bidding.
"Lucy…" Erza began and Lucy held her hand up but smiled "Erza...until I know you didn't hurt those good people, nice mages back there that were just doing their jobs and protecting this guild? I don't want to talk with you because...whether or not you hurt them will determine whether or not I'm glad to see you or not." She said.
Cristoff returned then, smiling "They're fine, the one she hit in the head had a bump and the other one had some frostburn but I took care of it." The Lunar slayer said.
Lucy nodded "Thanks Cris…." She looked at Erza for a long moment, the requip mage pressing her lips together, ashamed. She really had just been determined to see Lucy, but she had to admit, she'd not given those men hardly any time to talk and she hadn't listened either, just...forced her way past them…
"Oh joy, she-beast and Iceballs, there goes Bosco." Cobra sighed, he'd been behind stage happily watching and listening to his mate sing, as often happened when Vander sang, he'd relaxed into dozing and focusing on that silky voice. Then the redhead had hit the fan.
"Erik.." Lucy warned narrowing her eyes on the Poison Slayer, the situation did NOT call for his brand of diplomacy.
"Oh don't mind me, I'm gonna go climb into Vanders lap and watch you sort this out Tink." He said, moving back toward the stage.
"Lucy...I apologize…" Erza said and Lucy stepped closer.
"Don't apologize Erza, just don't do this shit in the first place. I do NOT need, nor do I want protection, I'm getting married tomorrow Erza, this is a special New Years eve party you just...crashed." She said and Erza's eyes widened.
"Married?...Lucy...why didn't you say anything? Why wasn't I...invited?" She asked, the hurt in her voice making Lucy struggle to stand by her inner determination to stand up to her friends and make sure they did not treat her like they had before.
"Erza...you didn't even say goodbye to me, just...left, you too Gray, I didn't think you cared or gave a single shit about me after that, so, I left you alone and waited to hear from you, I figured if you cared, you'd contact me soon...but we know THAT didn't happen now did it? So lets just dump this whole "Protecting Lucy thing shall we? I'm willing to forgive you, start over, but...I don't trust you, you or Gray, not to act like you just did, I don't want either of you ruining my wedding getting into a fight or starting trouble so really? Unless you're going to swear to me that no matter what you will NOT interfere with any part of my wedding? I still won't invite you. But if you do, swear, you will NOT interfere or cause trouble? I would love for you both to be there." Lucy said firmly.
Gods it was so hard, standing there looking at her old team mates, standing up to them, she'd thought about it, even sort of daydreamed about getting her hurt and feelings of betrayal and abandonment off her chest, but facing Erzas now tear filled eyes, seeing the remorse and pain in Grays face, her resolve was crumbling.
"I swear Lucy...please...I promised you I would prove my resolve, I found Gray, brought him with me, I tried to find Natsu but...I was unable to locate him…" Erza said softly.
"We both thought you were with Natsu Lucy...I swear, if I'd known that fucking flameshit had left without you? I never would have left even hurting like I was, I would have dragged you with me...I'm so sorry Lucy...please…" Gray said and Lucy's own eyes were getting watery as she looked at the pair and she waved to the security men and the fields were released, Gray and Erza both managing to land on their feet.
"You should have checked on her, should have made sure, you know that right? I want that promise from you, Gray, just like Erza gave it." Kalebs voice was firm, and he'd stepped forward, putting an arm across Lucy to bar both Gray and Erza from rushing to hug their friend.
Gray narrowed his eyes on the big blonde "And you are?" He asked, not taking being blocked well but unwilling to knock the guy on his ass and upset Lucy more.
"He's my mate Gray, the man I am marrying tomorrow." Lucy said from behind Kalebs arm.
Kalebs lavender eyes narrowed on the pair. "I'm Kaleb Pradesh, Master of this guild and her happiness, is MY responsibility, NOT yours. She handles her own safety just fine but if she needs help, I'm never far. Now...that promise you need to make." He prompted.
Gray nodded "I swear, I won't do anything to mess with your wedding Lucy...Kaleb…" He added the last, figuring, if this was going to be Lucy's husband, he'd better make nice.
Yes, you'd better, because your thoughts? I can hear them as loudly as if you were speaking them out loud, I know you were in no shape to be around her, you would NOT have gone to get her if you'd known, you felt too miserable yourself over your fathers death, but I won't tell Lucy that, just understand...you can't hide anything from me, and I will protect her, from you and Erza both if I have to, she will NEVER be as miserable as she was when she came here, not ever again, that was my promise to her when we met and I'll keep it. Kalebs voice in Gray's head made his eyes widen in shock. What the ever loving FUCK?! This man could read thoughts?! How were he and Erza supposed to get Lucy alone to talk if this guy was around?!
You won't, and even if you did? I'm a wizard saint, you couldn't take her far enough away I wouldn't be privy to every word spoken and every thought that crossed your mind. Was Kalebs immediate reply to the unspoken thoughts. Grey pressed his lips together, watching Erza do the same thing and suddenly realizing the man in front of them was probably "talking" to Erza at the same time as him….yeah...no way around the guy.
"We both swear...on everything…" Erza said flatly, looking at Kaleb. He nodded and lowered his arm Lucy smiling at him before holding her arms out to her friends.
He'd shared every word he'd said to her friends with her, just leaving out something he'd said with Gray, promising her it didn't matter, and she knew him well enough now she knew, he hid nothing if he believed it would affect her going forward. Kaleb, she trusted, she had seen him, all of him, clear through to his soul when they had mated, and knew, felt through their bond every day the immensity of his love for her, his devotion, just like she knew he felt hers.
He stepped aside as Erza and Gray rushed his beautiful mate, smiling in spite of himself when he felt all the joy the reunion brought her. He'd felt every bit of her struggle during this confrontation, but she'd made it through, held strong, and he was proud of her. He looked toward the stage, giving Vander a mental nudge and the shadowquip jumped up from where he was bent down close to Cobra, snapping his mic back down.
"Ok ladies and gentlemages of White Sea, shows over, let us resume the merry making!" He called and shouldered his guitar again as Cristoff and Gajeel took theirs up so the music could resume.
White Sea had a lot to celebrate.
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A/N I wanted to let all of you know. I'm working on this story a lot.. The removal of certain characters and rewrite to maintain the flow of the story once that was done has seen me remove 5 entire chapters, almost 50,000 written words from the original. It's taking time to sift through the holes blasted in the storyline by that, redo in some cases entire chapters not just a few paragraphs and I really never liked having that character in the story anyway, they were entirely too overpowered and far too difficult to incorporate without making every other mage both canon and OC seem small by comparison, removal of it really was badly needed but in the first writing a lot of writing had been done to accommodate that character. Removing it is great, I'm really thrilled it will be completely purged along with everything associated with it, but in the mean time, it's costing holes in the storyline that take time to rework. I am reading all of your PMs, and I appreciate every single one, I also deeply appreciate all of the reviews that are helping me see how the reworking is coming together. Thank you again to Nightmare Senshi, Starry, MsPuppetx, AwesomeMed, Sassy, Erza, Im, and all of the other authors who have been talking with me while I've been at work on this, offering feedback and helping with editing, we are all part of a large Discord group that works up storylines and refines characters and dialogue writing with a realtime RP where the characters you see in our stories are endlessly interacting with each other so we can help each other with all the aspects of producing the most engaging and relatable stories we can all produce. Quick wave to Nikki, welcome to the madhouse where a pack of authors set their mind children loose in a creative sandbox of chaos.
"Heartbeat" By Enrigue Iglasias. Could very much see this group singing it and dancing to it.